​The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (April 8) issued a notification to refuse an application for renewal of a Specified Process Licence (SPL) for a concrete batching plant (CBP) at 20 Tung Yuen Street, Yau Tong.
A spokesman for the EPD said that the department has all along been concerned about the operation of the CBPs in Yau Tong, and has stepped up inspections and monitoring on whether the CBPs strictly comply with the terms of the SPL and adopt the best practicable measures to avoid causing an environmental nuisance to nearby residents.
In previous inspections and monitoring, EPD enforcement officers repeatedly found instances of malpractice by the CBP at 20 Tung Yuen Street, including repeated serious dust emission incidents that caused air pollution. Multiple offers of advice and warnings had been given to the plant, and prosecution was instituted against the plant for a case of suspected violation of the licence terms due to dust emission last year. The plant continued to cause serious dust emission incidents recently, and the EPD is conducting investigations and gathering evidence for these incidents.
The spokesman explained that the previous environmental performance of the plant concerned was unsatisfactory. It failed to demonstrate that it possesses the capability to provide and effectively operate the necessary practicable measures for preventing pollutant emissions and nuisance caused to the nearby residents, and has hence failed to comply with the requirements for licence renewal under the Air Pollution Control Ordinance (APCO). The department thereby refused the application for renewal of the SPL for the plant.
According to the APCO, the plant concerned can appeal to the Air Pollution Control Appeal Board within 21 days of receiving the department's notification of refusing its licence renewal application, or the plant must cease operation upon expiry of the appeal period.
The EPD also refused an application for renewal of an SPL for another CBP at 22 Tung Yuen Street, Yau Tong, in April 2021.
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